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Beautiful Country Home located on 31 acres overlooking Bearhaven Harbour

Photo gallery for Beautiful Country Home located on 31 acres overlooking Bearhaven Harbour

A sunlit room with large windows, wicker furniture, and a view of a grassy landscape.
A sunlit room with a large curved window overlooking a garden and a lake.
A white house with a red door, surrounded by lush greenery and trees.
A sunlit room with large windows, wicker furniture, and a view of a green landscape.
A cozy living room with a striped sofa, a small round table with a lamp, and a fireplace.

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • Made for relaxation
    Top-rated for comfort — guests feel right at home here.
  • Centrally-located
    You're never far from where you need to be with this convenient location.
3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 6

Popular amenities

  • Onsite parking available
  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Barbecue grill
  • Garden
  • Internet access

Explore the area

View in a map
Droum, Cork (county)
  • Place, Bantry Bay
    ‪2 min drive‬
  • Place, Mill Cove Gallery
    ‪13 min drive‬
  • Place, Sarah Walker Gallery
    ‪13 min drive‬
  • Airport, Cahirciveen (CHE-Reeroe)
    ‪138 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Master

1 Queen Bed

Upstairs Room 1

1 Queen Bed

Upstairs Room 2

2 Single Beds

2 bathrooms

Downstairs Bathroom

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Upstairs Bathroom

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Spaces

Kitchen
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Beautiful Country Home located on 31 acres overlooking Bearhaven Harbour

Beautiful country home sitting on 31 acres of beautiful Irish countryside just 10 minutes outside of Castletown Berehaven on the famous Ring of Beara. Home is well appointed, comfortable and makes for a wonderful family getaway. The property is just a 200 meter walk from the shoreline of the famous and scenic Bearhaven Harbor for those interested in fishing or a nice refreshing swim. Winding throughout the property are several kilometers of hiking paths for those interested in exploring the property or just taking a peaceful walk through the woods. The home is overlooked by Hungry Hill, part of the Caha Mountain range for the more adventurous hikers and those seeking breathtaking views of the Bearhaven Harbor, Bantry Bay, Bere Island and a good segment of the Beara Peninsula. For the shoppers in your group, there are many small arts and craft shops nestled in the small towns throughout the Ring of Beara. There are many wonderful local restaurants, most featuring locally caught seafood fresh from the fishing vessels that call Castletown home. Whether it is hiking, fishing, shopping or just enjoying the peace and quiet, you will find Sandmount to be the perfect destination for you family vacation.

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Property # 4431219
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a deadlock

About the area

Droum

Located in Droum, this holiday home is in a rural area. Bere Island Heritage Centre and Mill Cove Gallery are cultural highlights, and some of the area's attractions include Issie's Handmade Chocolate and Derreen Gardens. Sailing and fishing offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with mountain climbing and horse riding nearby.
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Map
Droum, Cork (county)

What's nearby

  • Bantry Bay - 2 min drive - 2.1 km
  • Mill Cove Gallery - 13 min drive - 11.2 km
  • Issie's Handmade Chocolate - 13 min drive - 11.2 km
  • Sarah Walker Gallery - 13 min drive - 11.5 km
  • Dunboy Castle - 19 min drive - 16.0 km

Getting around

  • Cahirciveen (CHE-Reeroe) - 164 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪MacCarthy's Bar - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Murphy's Restaurant - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Sugrues On The Square - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Lynchs On The Pier - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Breen's Lobster Bar - ‬9 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Beautiful Country Home located on 31 acres overlooking Bearhaven Harbour pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at Beautiful Country Home located on 31 acres overlooking Bearhaven Harbour?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Beautiful Country Home located on 31 acres overlooking Bearhaven Harbour?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Beautiful Country Home located on 31 acres overlooking Bearhaven Harbour?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Beautiful Country Home located on 31 acres overlooking Bearhaven Harbour located?

Situated in a rural location, this holiday home is 2 mi (3.2 km) from Bantry Bay and 3.1 mi (4.9 km) from Hungry Hill. Bere Island Heritage Centre and Mill Cove Gallery are also within 6 miles (10 km).

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 59 out of 63 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 3 out of 63 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 63 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 63 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 63 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Jeff E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
This was an absolute dream home and location for our family vacation. You truly have a private, coastal getaway with hiking, fishing and a gorgeous home to play games, spend sweet time together as a family making meals, reading in the sunroom and enjoying the nearby village. Every place you turn is filled with such rich history and we were beyond blessed to stay here. So thankful!
Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 22 Apr, 2026
Thank you very much for your kind review. Very happy to hear you enjoyed your stay. Hope to have you back as our guests again in the future.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Eileen B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
John was a great host, accommodating and easy to communicate with. The house was clean and very comfortable, and well appointed. The setting of this property is stunning! The view from the conservatory is of Bere Island, in Bantry Bay. One of the trails on the large property led us to a forest of bluebells and moss covered trees, so gorgeous. A short walk down the quiet woodsy lane will take you right to the Bay. The house itself is in a very quiet and relaxing spot, but only ten minutes from Castletownbere with shops and pubs. I’d stay here again in a heartbeat.
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Catherine N.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Fabulous location. Secluded. Exactly what we wanted.
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Marie I.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
My husband and I stayed just about a week at this lovely home just outside of Castletownbere. The house was immaculately clean, the beds were comfortable, and the kitchen was well stocked. The house had everything we needed, including a new washer and dryer, and made our stay very comfortable. The location was perfect for us to discover the Beara Peninsula and surrounding areas. We are very highly recommend this home to anyone traveling the Beara Peninsula area of Ireland.
Stayed 6 nights in Oct 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Jan Erik G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful house in quite location to explore Beara peninsula. Our kids (12 years) enjoyed to have their own rooms.
Stayed 11 nights in Aug 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 23 Aug, 2025
Glad you and your family enjoyed your stay Jan. It is definitely a peaceful location with lots of outdoor things for the kids to do. Hope to have you as our guests again in the future.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Agnes D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderfull stay

Great house, great location, beara ring wonderfull!!!
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Annwen W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Relaxing Stay

We loved this house for the view and cozy feel. Perfect for a family of five to relax and explore the Beara Peninsula.
Stayed 6 nights in Oct 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 26 Oct, 2023
Thank you so much Annwen. Glad to hear you all enjoyed your stay! Hope to have you back again in the future.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Imelda B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The cottage was spacious and great for four friends staying together for a week of walking in Co Cork. All the needs that are required ie. towels, sheets, kitchen utensils etc, were there. The kitchen was fully supplied with dishwasher tablets and a washing machine working perfectly. It's a 10 min drive from Castletownbere so no walking to the nearest pub/restaurant. A taxi ride to go into town. A beautiful location and a lovely spot to have time away from it all. I'd definitely go back
Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Nancy S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Our visit

Beautiful
Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Margaret T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Magical house, magical location

This home is magical in every way -- its layout, its design, its location, and its views. We are already planning our next visit if John will have us. The photos don't do it justice! Pure magic
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 12 Apr, 2025
Thank you very much Margaret for your wonderful review. Magical is a word I use often to describe it as well. Glad you enjoyed your stay. Look forward to having you as our guest again in the future.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Paul G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Winter Break

Our 2nd visit to John,s house and it was another brilliant stay. 3 min walk to the beach, lovely woodland walks at our door step and most importanly, a lovely, homely, cosy house to come back to.
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Dave H.

Excellent accomodation

Sandmount exceeded our expectations. From the three very comfortable bedrooms, fully equipped kitchen and wonderful sunroom it had everything we needed for a relaxing time while we explored the Beara Peninsula. Highly recommended.
Stayed 5 nights in May 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 22 Mar, 2020
Thank you very much for the positive feedback Dave. It sounds like you all really had a nice time and got to experience the peacefulness & beauty of Beara. We look forward to having you and Deb back again in the future. John O'Leary
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Brian S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Magical Ireland

Could not say enough good things about John O'Leary and his home near Castletownbere. Such a wonderful stay in a land of incredibly friendly and welcoming people. Brian Sullivan
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 5 Jul, 2022
Thank you for your kind words Brian. Glad to hear you guys had a wonderful stay. Hopefully we will see you and your brothers return someday.
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Merrie W.

Lovely home in beautiful surroundings!

The house is even nicer than the descriptions and photos. We loved all the walking paths and the ease of walking down to the very scenic and peaceful bay. (On a more prosaic note it was also useful to have a larger American-style washer and dryer). Anne, the local house manager, was very welcoming and helpful. The owner, John, was also very pleasant and helpful.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2017
Response from VrboOwner on 22 Mar, 2020
Thank you very much for your feedback and for staying at Sandmount. We are very happy to know you had an enjoyable time and look forward to you returning sometime in the future.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Sharon H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A Wonderful Retreat

This is a clean, comfortable, well equipped house in a peaceful location only five minutes walk from a lovely shore and woodland. If you are looking for a restful retreat, it is perfect. Our family had a wonderful two weeks here. Many thanks to John for clear communication. Many thanks to Anne for her warm welcome and helpful assistance. We highly recommend this house.
Stayed 14 nights in Jul 2019
Response from VrboOwner on 22 Mar, 2020
Thank you so much for the kind feedback Sharon. We are very happy to know you had a restful and pleasant stay. Look forward to seeing you and your family again in the future!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Aileen G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fantastic getaway!

We recently spent a wonderful week in Sandmount and can highly recommend it. The house is beautiful and full of character, very cosy and comfortable with everything you might need. It is also really well maintained and clean. The grounds are fantastic, with sea views, mature gardens and woodland walking trails. It's just a short stroll to the sea front which is quiet and peaceful, and also has a small beach which was perfect for our kids to play on. It was a perfect stay for a relaxing break, and with Castletownbere a short drive away it is also very convenient. We would definitely recommend!
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 1 Aug, 2022
Thank you so much for your kind review. It is always nice to know that Sandmount has been a part of a wonderful family vacation. We look forward to having you and your family back again!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Robert J V.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing in every way!

This was the perfect out of the way stay that we were looking for. So peaceful and quiet with magnificent location and setting. The cottage was home for the week and it felt like home. Classic Irish cottage. loved the sunroom looking out over the water. Fires going in the fireplace and dinner in the well stocked kitchen. John was easy to work with and very helpful. Magnificent week. Thanks John! Bob and Virginia.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 2 Jun, 2023
Thank you very much for the nice review. Very happy you guys enjoyed your stay. Hope to see you back in the future!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Alison W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A comfortable and spacious home in beautiful peaceful setting

Sandmount offers everything you could need. The way to describe it is as a family home where the owners have just popped out. You never know when self catering whether you should bring your own salt, pepper, washing up liquid, etc but literally everything - and more - was available. In addition, there were plenty of Irish reference and guide books, maps, leaflets for local attractions, and also a selection of games. The beds were really comfortable and good showers with plenty of towels. The view across the bay is stunning, and the short walk to the beach. Definitely the best of the Beara rentals we have had so far.
Stayed 10 nights in Jul 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 10 Aug, 2022
Thank you so very much Alison for your kind review. We certainly aim for people will feel like they are at home when staying at Sandmount and we are most happy that you did. Hopefully we will have you as our guest again in the future.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Betty H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Ireland family vacation

The location of this property was absolutely amazing!! We could not have imagined such a beautiful setting for a family vacation. The owner was very responsive and Anne went above and beyond to make us feel welcome and answer any questions we had about the house. We would love to be able to come back again to this beautiful home! The walk to the water each morning was refreshing! The home is well supplied with all the kitchen utensils and appliances. We were able to cook at home with no problem. The short drive to Castletownbere for groceries and dining at the cozy restaurants was also a nice plus. Thank you to our hosts for making us feel most welcome!!
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 1 Jul, 2022
Thank you so much for your kind review Betty. I am very happy you all enjoyed your stay and were able to experience the beauty of Beara. Hope to have you back again in the future!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Denise S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Sea and Sky

Loved our stay at Sandmount - everything from start to finish was top notch. Ann explained the ins and outs of the home upon arrival and kindly dropped by to let us know when there was a brief outage in the internet. Well situated to drive east or west; and we did both. Less than 10 minutes to Castletownbere and the Ring of Beara. A short walk down the lane to the harbor shore was a delight. Loved having tea in the morning from a comfy seat in the glassed in porch and watching the glistening waters and the changing skies. The large kitchen is a plus and the kitchen table was perfect for game nights, chosen from the many available.
Stayed 10 nights in Jul 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Kevin C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Surpassed all expectations

Thank you John for giving us the experience of living the life. Four weeks in your house was perfect, comfortable beds, perfect sun room, fantastic kitchen with all you want and 3 minutes walk to the beach. We were swimming each morning to start the day off right. We know the Beara peninsular well and it was great to take our time in revisiting old haunts and finding new ones. Castletownbere has everything you want regarding grocery shopping, coffee, pubs and restaurants. The selection of fresh fish available was more than we expected. The only thing out of our hands was the weather and that worked out perfect.TG. Correspondence with John and Anne before and during our stay could not have been better. Retired couple from Canada
Stayed 27 nights in Aug 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 13 Sept, 2022
Kevin & Liz, thank you very much for the kind words. It truly makes me happy to share my home so that others can enjoy the peaceful setting and all that the local area has to offer. We hope to see you back at Sandmount again some time in the future!
Archival

10/10 Excellent

Clare E.

A perfect Irish home

My husband and I stayed at this beautiful family home during a tour of Southern Ireland and couldnt believe how beautiful it was, we were so sad when we had to leave. The house is very welcoming with its open plan, light, airy rooms, cosy open fires and beautiful sea views, we immediately felt at home. There are three large bedrooms with comfortable beds and there are two bathrooms, one upstairs and one downstairs which was very convenient. The house wants for nothing, anything you could possibly need is provided to make your stay as comfortable and relaxed as possible, from board games to books on Irish history to a well stocked kitchen and utility room, everything has been catered for. Outside, the cottage sits in beautiful gardens where we watched an array of wildlife and a short walk down the lane is the sea! The views of the sea and mountains are absolutely stunning. Five minutes drive away is the small town of Castletownbere where you are assured a warm welcome and will find great restaurants, bars and shops. I cannot recommend this lovely cottage enough, we cannot wait to go back to the tranquility of this beautiful Irish home.
Response from VrboOwner on 22 Mar, 2020
Thank you so much for staying at Sandmount. The home is a special place where we have made many wonderful memories. We are always happy to share the house, the scenery and the tranquility with others. It is one of those places you can't experience just once. We look forward to your return. Best regards!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Matt S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Literally, A Home Away From Home

Our second visit to Sandmount. After visiting for a few days back in 2017, we fell in love with this place and knew we had to come back. We arrived just a few days before Ireland shut down due to the pandemic and we ended up staying longer than anticipated but we never felt inconvenienced. In fact, we could not have picked a more perfect place to be during this time. John was wonderful to work with and was very accommodating given our situation and was prompt in all his responses. The property is amazing. The house is a wonderful combination of tradition Irish cottage and modern vacation house. The property, with its ocean view and 30+ acres of fields, forests, and trails, provides hours of calm, peaceful hiking with an abundance of wildlife to view. There's as much here for kids to do as adults and, who knows, maybe some enterprising guests have even left a treasure hunt for future guests... In all our travels, we've never found a place we've loved so much. We could not have asked for a better place to stay and have already made plans to return next year.
Stayed 74 nights in Mar 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 17 Jun, 2020
Thank you so very much for the kind words Matt. We have thoroughly enjoyed having you and your family as our guest and are so happy things worked out for you guys to extend your stay. We look forward to having your return visits for years to come!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

David W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Awesome & Incredible Stay

I cannot say enough positive things about this house and our stay. Known as Sandmount, it is located down a beautiful side road off the main road to Castletownbere, five miles away. It’s a great jumping off point for hiking the Beara Peninsula. We went to town often to shop for groceries and the like. The main living area is open and comfortable with a fireplace we used on a regular basis. The master bedroom downstairs is spacious. Our daughter had the upstairs, including a bathroom, all to herself. The enclosed back porch looks out on the Atlantic Ocean, and we spent hours out there (with space heaters), reading and just staring at the waves. We cooked a lot, so the spacious kitchen, with ample counter space and seating, worked really well for us. John and Anne (who lives up the road and checked in on us from time to time and with whom we shared homemade food) are a pleasure to deal with. I’ve already told my friends that if they need a place to get away from it all, recharge, and find some peace and quiet, this is the place. We hope to return here as well.
Stayed 21 nights in Jan 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 23 Feb, 2021
Thank you so much David for your kind review. I'm glad you all enjoyed yourself and the area. We hope to see you and your family again in the future. Sandmount will be waiting for you!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Bridget W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great getaway in beautiful Beara

We've rented many Irish homes, mainly in the west, but this was the southernmost stay yet. The area is rural but with many interesting things to do, and we made the most of our time in both rain and shine. The house is large with a nice layout although we used only the ground floor, plenty of space for two. The sunroom warmed up very nicely even on the cooler days, and we ate most of our meals there. The only thing we found lacking in the house was the supply of kitchen cooking utensils as what is provided is scant and there was no ladle for the soup we made. We had so been looking forward to a peat fire but discovered that traditional peat is now, for most, banned, and the substitute fuel just wasn't the same; something to be aware of if you, like us, didn't know this. We visited the small beach at the end of the road, where we got a few shots of a seal, traversed the Healy Pass several times, visited Bantry and Bantry House, Kenmare, Glengariff, and frequented Castletownbere for both shopping and dining. As always the locals were warm and helpful. We would stay at Sandmount again and recommend to others. Thank you for a restful respite!
Stayed 8 nights in Sep 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 26 Oct, 2023
Thank you for your kind review Bridget. It sounds like you all made the most of your time and I'm very happy you enjoyed it. Hope to see you again in the future.

About the host

Hosted by John O'Leary

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Languages:

English, Spanish

Premier Host

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